System outage from Microsoft and Crowdstrike disrupts air traffic and shuts down offices

On Thursday, July 18, users worldwide experienced a technology outage that affected flights, banks, hospitals, and more. Microsoft 365 released a brief statement on X stating that they are actively working on resolving the issue and advised users to check their page for real-time updates. 

On Friday, July 19, Microsoft announced that the outages were caused by a Crowdstrike update. Several corporate and government offices reported on Friday morning that their systems were impacted by the outage, resulting in delays and closures. By 12 pm EST on Monday, over 1,000 flights on the East Coast had been canceled, with many more facing delays. Maryland courts and offices will be closed to the public on the 19th. 

Crowdstrike has clarified that, at present, there is no evidence of a cyberattack or security incident.